We got a chance to talk with Josh Mond, Cynthia Nixon, and Christopher Abbott at the Opening Night of MoMA’s Eighth Annual Contenders.
Many of probably have yet to hear about this great little film called James White, and it’s worth a look. The film follows Christopher Abbott’s character, James White, has he experiences a turning point in his young millennial carefree life. It’s a very intimate and personal portrayal of being thrown into a position to grow up and face reality in the midst of a trying time brought upon by the illness of a loved one. We got a chance to talk about the film with Josh Mond, who wrote and directed the film as well as Cynthia Nixon and Christopher Abbott who starred wonderfully in the film. Check out our talk with them:
So tell me a little about your character and how did you prepare for the role?
Cynthia Nixon: Well she’s a single mom, she has a grown son. She wanted to be a writer herself and she didn’t have a lot of success at it but she put a lot of her dreams and ambition into her son. She’s worried about him, he’s a little bit of a screw-up at the moment. She’s been struggling with cancer and it comes back and she really has to turn to her son because she doesn’t have a husband, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, she doesn’t have a sister you know and he’s got to be her person. She feels terrible putting the pressure on him and he thinks maybe this will be the thing that helps him to grow up.
When comes to film or tv portrayals of New York you’re one of the first actresses that come to mind, with this being a very New York movie how was filiming?
Cynthia: Oh that’s good I’m glad! It was great, you know I think it really conveys a sense of New York that kind of driving, restless energy of New York and there’s not a lot of showing of buildings and things but I think it captures the energy of the city really well.
What attracted you to the project?
Cynthia: The script!
How was working with Josh?
Cynthia: I loved it! He’s very collaborative but he knows what he wants.
What inspired the film? How’d you come up with the story?
Josh Mond: I started working on something a long time ago while my mother was sick and it lead me to work on something more personal and the frustration of watching my mother pass.
So the characters are based off of your life?
Josh: They’re loosely based off of people in my life.
Tell me a little about your character in your own words
Christopher Abbott: You know he’s kind of a troubled 20 something, like the synopsis says, dealing with his own demons and then these bigger events in his life are thrown on him and this is the movie, during that crux.
How’d you prepare for the role?
Abbott: I was friends with Josh from years before so I got to read the script for at least a year before we actually started filming it. I got to ask questions, I got to figure it out with Josh, how he dressed, how he was, it was a very slow build up.
Do you relate to the character of James White at all?
Abbot: There are things that I relate to, not completely but there are things.
What was one of your favorite scenes to act in or in general?
Abbott: The movie to me feels like one big seen so it feels like it’s hard to pick it apart. I just love working with these actors. I love working all my scenes with Cynthia, I loved the dynamic that I got with Scott and Mackenzie and Ron, Ron and I only had a couple of scenes together but I loved those. The interview scene is like one of my favorites. I think it’s the funniest scene, it’s one of the few funny scenes in the movie. Just these actors.
What makes this project unique?
Abbott: I got to make it with some dear friends of mine and that’s always a special thing.
A party followed at Lexington Brass. The film is now playing.
The cast is participating in a Q&A in New York this weekend. Information below:
SATURDAY, November 14th:
– 7:00pm Screening and Q&A with Josh Mond and Christopher Abbott
– 9:15pm Screening and Q&A with Josh Mond, Christopher Abbott, and Cynthia Nixon
SUNDAY, November 15th:
– 7:00pm Screening and Q&A with Josh Mond and Christopher Abbott
Here is a link to buy tickets:
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/new-york-city/sunshine-cinema/film-info/james-white
